Good Pear Trees for Canning

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Good Pear Trees for Canning

The pear is a type of fruit tree. Originally from Europe, pears can be grown throughout North America. Canning pears is a common method of storage and consumption used by backyard gardeners and orchardists. Some types of pear trees produce fruit that is better suited for canning than other types. Discover some of the pear trees that produce fruit that is ideal for canning so you can continue to enjoy the fruits of your labors long after the pear growing season is over.

Bartlett Pear

The bartlett pear is one of the best pears for both eating fresh and canning. The fruit is relatively firm, and has a juicy and sweet texture and taste. For best results, pick the pears before they are ripe, as bartlett pears become mushy if ripened on the tree. The tree prefers well-drained, moist soil and requires at least 6 hours of full sunlight a day. The tree reaches a height of up to 20 feet.

Orient Pear

The orient pear produces russet-tinged fruit and is known for being disease resistant. Its fruit is typically used for canning and baking purposes and is popular for dessert recipes. The tree reaches up to 30 feet in height and can tolerate various soil types, including both clay loam and sandy loam.

Kieffer Pear

The Kieffer pear is an Asian pear tree that produces white-fleshed, crunchy fruit. The pear fruit's quality is low and rarely used for fresh consumption, though it makes an excellent canning fruit. The tree reaches up to 30 feet in height and requires full sun. Unlike many pear trees, the Kieffer pear does well in dry climates and is exceptionally hardy.

Hosui Pear

The Hosui pear's distinctive rumlike flavor makes it an exotic canning fruit popular for baking and crafting pear sauces. The tree grows relatively low at 12 to 15 feet, making picking the fruit much easier than taller pear tree types.

Canning Readiness

Pears should be suitably ripe before canning, regardless of the tree type. Test ripeness with your fingers and a peeler. Pears are ready for canning when they give slightly to pressure from your thumb and peel easily. Canning very ripe pears may result in mushy canned pears that are too soft.

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Josh Duvauchelle is an editor and journalist with more than 10 years' experience. His work has appeared in various magazines, including "Honolulu Magazine," which has more paid subscribers than any other magazine in Hawaii. He graduated with honors from Trinity Western University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in professional communications, and earned a certificate in applied leadership and public affairs from the Laurentian Leadership Centre.